Switch.



No. 776,545. PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904:.

E. F. PORTER.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHBBT 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 776,545. PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904. E. F. PORTER.

SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 30, 1903.

- no MODEL. 2 SHEETSSHBBT 2.

UNITED STATES Patented December 6, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

EDWIN F. PORTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO PORTER AIR COMPRESSOR COMPANY, OF KITTERY, MAINE, ACORPORATION OF MAINE.

SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,545, dated December6, 1904.

Application filed March 30, 1903.

l T (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN F. PORTER, of Boston, (Dorchester,) in thecounty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented eertain newand useful Improvements in Switches,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in switches, andespecially to that class of switches known as electric switches;

IO and the object of my invention is to provide a quick make-and-breakdevice. My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafterdescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate a construction embodyingmy invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of theair-compressingapparatus operated by the motor, with my switch incombination therewith and showing the switch open. Fig. 2 is a similarview, partly in section, showing the switch closed. Fig. 3 is amodification showing in side elevation the air-compressing apparatusoperated by the motor with the switch open. Fig. 4 is 5 a similar viewof the modification shown in Fig. 3 with the switch closed and withparts in section.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews. On the base A is mounted the motor B, which operates theair-compressor C, having the respective shafts B and C coupled by asuitable coupling B The aircompressor C is provided with an air-inlet Dand an air-outlet E, to which is connected by the pipe F astorage-reservoir G, from which the air passes by a suitable outlet H.The pipe E leads to the bottom of the chamber J The chamber J is closedat the top by the metallic diaphragm 4 K, which diaphragm operates therod L, and this red is regulated by the compression-spring M, and thecompression of this spring is regulated by the guide N and held securelyby the proper nut and lock-nut M. The support N guides the rod L andalso offers a support to the switch-lever O, which is pivoted at O. Therod L slides through the clearance-hole Serial No. 150,093. (No model.)

at IV 3 in the lever O, which is screw-threaded,

as is also the nut and lock-nut M and the nut and lock-nut M and theobject of the nut and 5 lock-nut M as will be seen, is to contact thelever O on the upward throw of the diaphragm K, thereby opening theswitch.

R and R are two carbon terminals to the electric switch, the circuitthrough which is as follows: The current enters through the wire a andpasses through the motor B out through the wire 7) to the binding-postP, through the spring P, which spring serves a double purpose, that ofcarrying the current and drawing the switch-lever O into contact. Thecurrent passes on through the lever O to the carbon point R, through thecarbon point R, through the binding-post Q, and out through the wire 0.

Vith the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, the switch being open,the switch is held in the open position by the pressure of air in thereservoir G, indicated by the gage H, which shows a pressure of fifteenpounds. 7 O This pressure is arrived at through the adjustment of thecompression'spring M, which spring is intended to vary the tension ofthe diaphragm K. It will be seen that by means of thiscomprcssion-spring M through the medium of the nut M the point ofopening the switch may be varied arbitrarily; but for the purposes ofillustration the point has been placed at fifteen pounds. A slightlowering of pressure in the system allows the diaphragm to descend, asshown in Fig. 2, where the chamber and diaphragm are in section. Thisdescent of the diaphragm closes the switch, the gage showing a variationof three pounds to accomplish this, the gage pointing 5 at twelve poundsin Fig. 2, where the switch is shown closed. This automatically startsthe machinery. hen the pressure again reaches fifteen pounds, the switchis automatically opened, and the operation is continued, 9 as abovedescribed. The diaphragm K in this device is of peculiar construction,and on this peculiarity depends the quick make and break of the circuit.(his is peculiar, inasmuch as it diflers from the ordinary diaphragm(which is of rubber or some flexible material) in being made of amaterial which yields quickly, the structure being similar to that of anordinary oil-can, where the diaphragm is buckled and yields suddenly topressure or release. This construction is familiar in the oil-can spokenof, the diaphragm operating quickly under pressure, which results inpassing the critical point or dead-center, at which point the flexion isaccelerated, and repeating the motion in reverse or release. Thelock-nut M is placed out of contact with the switchlever, as shown inFig. 2, for the purpose of allowing the lever O to remain undisturbedduring the primary movement of the diaphragm K and contacts at themoment the diaphragm passes the dead-center, thereby striking the levera quick blow and making the quick break desirable. The tension spring Pholds the switch-lever O in contact with the nut M following it back asthe diaphragm recedes and making the circuit quickly as the diaphragmpasses the dead-center on its return.

This switch may be constructed with a rubber or leather diaphragm tooperate gradually by the rise and fall of air-pressure, and thispeculiar buckled diaphragm may be placed at some other point in relationto the switch interfering with the gradual action of the airdiaphragmand causing the quick make and break, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 and 4: there is mounted on the basea the motor 6, which operates the air-compressor 0, having theirrespective shafts b c coupled bya suitable coupling 7) Theair-compressor c is provided with an air-inlet (Z and an air-outlet e,to which is connected, by the pipe f, the storage-reservoir g from whichair passes by suitable outlet It. The pipe 0 leads to the bottom of thechamber j. The chamber j is closed at the top by the diaphragm 71: ofrubber, leather, or other suitable material, which operates the rod Z,and this rod is regulated by the compression-spring m, and thecompression of this spring is regulated by the guide a and the nut m,and the guide a also guides the rod land offers a support to theswitch-lever 0, which is pivoted at 0'. The rod Z slides through aclearance-hole m in the lever 0 and is screw-threaded, as are also thenuts and lock-nuts m of. The object of this nut and lock-nut m as willbe seen, is to contact the lever 0 on the upward throw of the diaphragm7t" and open the switch. Located above the lever 0 is the metallicbuckled diaphragm 71, supported in a suitable frame and firmly securedto the rod Z by suitable nuts. 'r r are two carbon terminals to theelectric switch, and the circuit through which is as follows: Thecurrent enters by the wire a and passes through the motor 6 out throughthe wire 7/ to the binding-post 71, through the spring 7), which springserves the double purpose of carrying the current and drawing theswitch-lever 0 into contact, assisting the nut and lock-nut m. Thecurrent passes on through the lever 0 to the carbon point through thecarbon point '1', through the binding-post q, and out through the wire0". \Vith the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, the switch is heldin the open position by the pressure of air in the reservoir r indicatedby the gage it, which shows a pressure of fifteen pounds. This pressureis arrived at through the adjustment of the compressionspring m, whichspring is intended to vary the tension of the diaphragm. it will be seenthat by means of this compression-spring m, through the medium of thenut m, the point of opening the switch may be varied arbitrarily; butfor the purposes of illustration the point has been placed at fifteenpounds. A slight lowering of the pressure in the system allows thediaphragm l" to descend, as shown in Fig. 4-, where the chamber anddiaphragm are in section. The descent of the dia imragm closes theswitch, the gage showing a variation of three pounds to accomplish this,the gage pointing at twelve pounds in Fig. i, where the switch is shownclosed. This automatically starts the ma chinery. hen the pressure againreaches fifteen pounds, the switch is automatically opened and theoperation is continued, as above described. The diaphragm Z: in thisdevice is similar in construction and operation to the diaphragm K(shown in Figs. 1 and 2) and operates in identically the same manner toopen and close the circuit. The lock-nut m is placed out of contact withthe switch-lever, as shown in Fig. i, to allow the lever 0 to remainundisturbed, for the purpose previously described with reference to thelever O in Figs. 1 and 2. The tensionspring 1) is for the same purposeas the tension-spring P, hereinbefore described.

Having thus ascertained the nature of invention and set forth aconstruction bodying the same, what I claim as now,

emand.

desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an apparatus of the character described, an air-pressure pump, anair-inlet to said pump, an air-outlet from said pump, an electric motorfor operating said pump, an electric circuit for operating said motor, aswitch controlling said circuit, a switch-lever for opening and closingsaid circuit, and a buckled diaphragm controlled by the pressure fromsaid pump for operating said switch lever as it passes to opposite sidesof its deadcenter line.

2. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, an air-pressure pump, anair-inlet to said pump, an air-outlet from said pump, an

electric motor for operating said pump, an electric circuit foroperating said motor, a switch controlling said circuit, a switch-leverfor opening and closing said circuit, a buckled diaphragm controlled bythe pressure from said pump for operating said switch-lever as it passesto opposite sides of its dead-center line, and aspring acting on saidlever to close the circuit.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, an air-pressure pump, anair-inlet to said pump, an air-outlet from said pump, a

storage-reservoir for the air, an electric motor for operating saidpump, an electric circuit for operating said motor, a switch controllingsaid circuit, a switch-lever for opening and closing said circuit, and abuckled diaphragm controlled by the pressure from said pump foroperating said switch-lever as it passes to opposite sides of itsdead-center line.

4:. In an electric switch, a movable switchlever, a buckled diaphragmfor operating said lever as it passes to opposite sides of itsdeadcenter line, and connections between said diaphragm and said lever.

5. In an electric switch, a movable switchlever, a buckled diaphragm foroperating said lever as it passes to opposite sides of its deadcenterline, connections between said diaphragm and said lever, and a springacting on said lever and tending to close the circuit.

6. In an electric switch, a movable switchlever, a buckled diaphragm foroperating said lever as it passes to opposite sides of its dear centerline, a rod secured to said diaphragm and passing through said lever,and nuts on said rod on opposite sides of said lever for operating saidlever upon the movements oi the buckled diaphragm.

7 In an electric switch, a movable switchlever, a buckled diaphragm foroperating said lever as it passes to opposite sides of its deadcenterline, a rod secured to said diaphragm and passing through said lever,nuts on said rod on opposite sides of said lever for operating saidlever upon the movements of the buckled diaphragm, and a spring actingon said lever and tending to close the circuit.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence-of two subscribing witnesses, this Qelth day of March, A. D.1903.

EDIVIN F. PORTER.

IVitnesses:

A. R. LARRABEE, A. L. IVIESSER.

